Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS year programme (academic year) | August 2010 | July 2012 | $13,800 | 16 -18 |
| AFS year programme (academic year) | Feb 2011 | Jan 2012 | $12,800 | 16-18 |
Netherlands is a nation of very independent-minded people who are often characterised by their international outlook, tolerance of others’ beliefs, and love of personal freedom. Half of the country lies below sea level on land created by walling off the North Sea with dikes. Remarkably, the country’s low ocean-side half is more densely settled than its higher eastern half – and Holland is Europe’s most densely populated country.
To keep towns from feeling overcrowded, citizens prefer to ride bicycles everywhere and you’ll do the same, cycling to school with your friends. The Netherlands also has an excellent public transportation system, letting you explore from the seaside to tiny villages to the ultra-hip capital of Amsterdam.
Another contributor to maintaining peace is an acceptance of social trends such as same-sex marriage and euthanasia. In fact, one of the few viewpoints that can make Dutch citizens angry is that their relaxed social philosophy is wrong.
Locals love water sports (frozen or not) and during the winter, ice skating across frozen canals is a popular pastime.
Family life
The Dutch have a strong sense of family. A Dutchperson’s home is their castle. It is clean, comfortable and cosy. Children help with the housework and respect the family’s rules. Parents expect to know when their children are going out and where they are going. The structures of host families vary widely. Some have single parents (mostly mothers), some have very young or much older children or no children. In a large number of families, both parents work.
School life
The Dutch school system has two main types of schools that AFSers can attend: HAVO and VWO. HAVO schools are liberal arts high schools while VWO schools are for Dutch students planning on attending university. Classes are the same in both schools except students focus on a specialty for their final two years. Specialties are language and commercial studies or science and maths.
The start of school is staggered from one to three weeks among the various regions of Holland. This system was developed so the whole country would not go on holiday at once! School ends in July. There is a week-long holiday in October, Christmas break, a spring holiday and a short break at Easter. Classes are from Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4pm, subject to variations allowed by course scheduling.
AFS Netherlands can place students with physical impairments such as hearing or visually impaired. Pre-existing language skills are required. Smokers are not accepted.
